July 30, 2025 | Mark Luis Foster

I grew up watching Bugs Bunny cartoons, and many people who know me well would likely say that it explains a lot. Some of my favorites, even in adulthood, are the old Wile E Coyote shorts where the Road Runner is constantly chased but always smarter than his pursuer. It’s a great life lesson.

But like everything else in life, sometimes things can catch up to you. Turns out the Road Runner was not smarter than his pursuer when it came time to stay put in a California HOA. The Escena Homeowners Association located in Palm Springs woke up one morning to find that their resin statue of the famed RR had flown the proverbial coop. They’re now offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of their statue, which vanished from the HOA’s entrance some time last year.

From the Palm Springs Post:

Tim Mathias, vice president of the Escena HOA, said the theft has left the community without a beloved piece of public art that held great value to the neighborhood. Mathias said the HOA is unable to commission a replacement after the original artist died in a ski accident, making the recovery of the original artwork the only option for the community.

There’s a theory that the Wile E Coyote who took the statue probably thought it was worth something.

“The statue was not bronze or some other metal that could be sold for scrap,” Mathias said. “It was a fiber resin so I doubt that it was destroyed. It is probably in someone’s backyard.”

The $10K is being offered specifically for information that directly leads to the safe return of the statue in its original condition. The HOA has stated that no questions will be asked upon the statue’s return.

Road Runner, where are you?

Read the story HERE.